Dell has officially closed a buyout of the company, taking the company off the publicly-traded stock market and into private hands. The buyout has been rumored since last week, when Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal reported that discussions to bring Dell private were serious, and that a deal could be reached in the following six weeks

Bloomberg also reports that board members met last night to vote on the move, while the Wall Street Journal cites top execs as saying company founder Michael Dell is a man "increasingly worried about his legacy." Michael Dell has reportedly lost enthusiasm for the day-to-day running of the company since reclaiming his position as CEO of the company in 2007.

As rumored earlier, Microsoft helped broker the deal, offering a reported $2 billion to facilitate the sale. The buyout has been rumored since last week, when Bloomberg andThe Wall Street Journal reported that discussions to bring Dell private were serious, and that a deal could be reached in the following six weeks.

As to why Microsoft would want to own a chunk of Dell, it may be that Microsoft wants to ensure a major partner persists with Windows over Android or Chrome OS; or it could have something to do with the more-than 2,400 patents that the Texas-based manufacturer has to its name.

Dell has struggled in recent years to maintain its position in the PC industry, losing more than a third of its value in 2012. By going private, however, the company won't have to deal with quarter-to-quarter scrutiny from shareholders as it attempts to turn things around.Developing...

It will be interesting how this translates into longer term goals and positioning; IMHO if this was a perfect world and I was Microsoft nothing would please me more than seeing Microsoft buy out Nokia and Dell then roll out Microsoft stores globally to provide a robust vertically integrated alternative to Apple that can compete toe to toe with Apple on all fronts.

i am glad they are private again, hopefully this will get them back on track to the grand company they used to be where all their systems were custom and not pre-packaged and when they did not have ridiculously high markup just to make the shareholders happy with higher profits each year.

It will be interesting how this translates into longer term goals and positioning; IMHO if this was a perfect world and I was Microsoft nothing would please me more than seeing Microsoft buy out Nokia and Dell then roll out Microsoft stores globally to provide a robust vertically integrated alternative to Apple that can compete toe to toe with Apple on all fronts.

Actually what I see in the long term is Microsoft looking to become an apple business model where they control pc and mobile hardware through an increasing controlling interest in Dell and Nokia.

My thoughts actually would be to where they could bring DELL computers to more store fronts by now offering them at Microsoft Stores.
Then also this would afford Microsoft the ability to work out the kinks of the Dell Platform. I mean most of my friends know the heart aches of Dell computers.... The hardware is descent and affordable but they package so much with it that it bogs the systems down. Most of those friends end up re-installing Windows to get rid of that packaged junk.

This actually makes perfect sense - not just to compete with Apple but to also get rid a thorn in their side. I can't count how many bad reviews Windows gets because it is "SLOW" when if those reviews would use a Vanilla install of Windows would certainly change their mind.

Recently a friend with Windows 7 and a 3 gig Dual Core Processor from Dell with 4 gig's of memory could not believe how fast my 2.3 dual core was versus his. Once I took the Dell Windows 7 off and put the Vanilla Windows on it... he is much more pleased.

That is my thoughts... I am sure that what I said would be debated much.... That now Microsoft would be part owner would have a say as to what is pre-installed and shipped with them.

This would also stop a majority of complaints that Microsoft gets about that.

Actually what I see in the long term is Microsoft looking to become an apple business model where they control pc and mobile hardware through an increasing controlling interest in Dell and Nokia.

At this point the buying out of the two I'd merge the Nokia and Dell, kick off the Dell brand and have Nokia as the hardware brand which sits under the larger Microsoft umbrella. IMHO Microsoft also needs to be a lot more choosy about who can and cannot get an OEM license as the rise of third rate third parties really ruin the Microsoft brand - how many times have you heard people blame Microsoft for the crappiness of third parties? heck, on this very forum we had a person blaming Windows 8 for BSOD'ing whilst ignoring that 9/10 a BSOD is caused either by a crappy driver or faulty hardware (you'd think on a technology oriented website such as this the calibre of people would be a lot higher).